Tastes

Brown-Forman's recent stock performance mirrors GlenDronach's fall from grace, and overpriced travel retail bottlings like Forgue show you why. A bit bumpy but still pleasant, the nose greets with grapes, prunes and baking spices, mingling with porridge, cantaloupe and hints of sulfur. The fruity arrival offers canned peaches, oranges and ginger, but there is a spirity/sharp undertone that never disappears. Dried fruits, almonds and a touch of IPA subside in the hot finish. This malt wasn't ready yet, so you have to ask yourself: why invest in disappointment? RATING: 3.0/5.0 stars ≙ 79 pts → AVERAGE

Who would pass up the opportunity to taste and review one of the top 5 whiskies of all time? The nose of this 1964 Bowmore is out of this world, almost ethereal, thriving with lychee, passion fruit and lilies. Pineapple, tobacco and some waxy notes emerge, this is almost too precious to drink. Silky, lush and more acidic than anticipated, the palate is a tropical fruit dream, flourishing with juicy oranges, guava and a subtle layer of soot. It begs for another sip as the sophisticated finish lingers. I'm not a Bowmore fanboy, but this dram is nectar of the gods! RATING: 5.0/5.0 stars ≙ 95 pts → PERFECT

My bottle arrived in a damaged box, so I made a virtue of necessity and simply opened it. The nose of this Longrow 21 is stunning, there are countless layers. Quince jelly, orange peel and pipe tobacco are complemented by spent matches, sea spray and hints of soot. Wonderfully juicy, ashy and savory, the palate emphasizes tropical fruits, wood spices and earthy notes. Pineapple cubes, roasted almonds and whiffs of peat smoke sparkle in the long and slightly salty finish. Call it a guilty pleasure, I'm aware that this malt is too expensive, but what a dram! RATING: 4.4/5.0 stars ≙ 90 pts → SUPERB [-]

I am a sucker for port, and Springbank ranks in my top 3 distilleries, so this Longrow is a real treat. On the nose, I am picking up raspberries, red currants and a farmyard note, it is quite effervescent, mineral and acidic. Embers, leather and peppercorn chime in. The sweet and sour arrival bursts with strawberry cream, prunes and earthy tannins before pink grapefruit, cocoa and briny peat smoke kick in. Excellent balance. Berries, dark chocolate and mint subside in the savory and slightly ashy finish. It's a real cracker of a malt, the tawny port casks work magic! RATING: 4.4/5.0 stars ≙ 90 pts → SUPERB [-]

Longrow Peated is one of the few Springbank bottlings that is readily available, but it is also the only one without an age statement. Is it any good? Youthful, earthy and slightly peppery, the nose opens up with coal smoke, pears and canned peaches, and I get hints of pinewood, spent matches and lemon peel. A dirty peat blast kicks off the palate, followed by tropical fruits, nutmeg and a touch of sea salt. Menthol, grapefruit and waves of oak spices fade in the sooty finish. It offers a different take on peated whisky, but I would not pay through the nose for it. RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]

Probably the least sought-after of the three Springbank brands, Hazelburn still outshines most Scottish single malts. Rich notes of blackberry jam, chocolate cookies and pipe tobacco ascent from the glass, rounded off by plums, mild pepper and cloves. Intense and spicy in the arrival, the palate mellows with stewed fruits, spearmint and a touch of salt. Mineral, earthy and citric notes creep in. Measured oak, roasted coffee and blood oranges migrate into the lasting and slightly dry aftertaste. A beautiful sherry bomb from Scotland's most iconic distillery. RATING: 4.2/5.0 stars ≙ 89 pts → FIRST-CLASS [+]

Named after one of Campbeltown's lost distilleries, Hazelburn is often described as delicate, light and virtually unpeated. On the nose, I get pineapple cubes, beeswax and citrus notes before it transitions towards gooseberries, subtle wood spices and a touch of salt. 'Clean and inviting' nails it. Tropical fruits, lemon drops and toffee unfold on the palate, this is lovely. It turns floral, gingery and slightly earthy. The medium-length finish lingers with green apples, salted licorice and hints of menthol. There is an awful lot of quality in this bottle, if you can get it. RATING: 4.0/5.0 stars ≙ 87 pts → FIRST-CLASS

Some call it the poor man's Springbank, a blended malt of young, subpar or leftover casks. Well, let's find out! Citric, funky and youthful, the nose starts off with spiced oranges, mild pepper and whiffs of peat smoke. Engine oil, brine and raisins appear. The firm arrival is accompanied by marmalade, lemon drops and slightly earthy notes before it shifts towards baking spices, pears and melon. Lime, black tea and emerging peatiness carry over into the zesty, fresh and mildly dry finish. It is not more than the sum of its parts, but it gives me a Campbeltown fix. RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]

Uninspiring, sanitized and anemic - many whisky drinkers have given up on Auchentoshan, which is a shame. The nose of this triple distilled Lowlander is light, floral and almost Irish in style, featuring mild citrus fruits, porridge and hazelnuts. After the gentle and slightly thin arrival, the palate evolves with some sherry notes, lemongrass and soft tannins. It has no edges but everything is dialed down and lacks flavor. Cereals, mint and fading caramel mark the clean, fresh and semidry finish. I don't want to be too harsh, but there is a lot of wasted potential. RATING: 3.0/5.0 stars ≙ 79 pts → AVERAGE

Why stop halfway? Non-chill filtered but obviously colored, Glen Garioch 12 is giving mixed messages. A bit prickly at first, the nose interweaves apricots, banana and ripe mango with heather, ginger and a dusty cereal note. On the palate, red apples, tangerines and baking spices give way to grapes, black tea and salted caramel, and I could swear that there is a tiny hint of peat smoke in the back. Orange zest, honey and some vegetal notes characterize the earthy and cask-dominated finish. A decent core range release, the elevated ABV works in its favor. RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 84 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE